(THOMPSON, CT) - The Late Models took center stage at Thompson Speedway with Marc Palmisano of Hadley, MA, taking a dominant win the extra-distance race for the division. It was a career night for some of the young lions of Thompson Speedway. Teenagers Derek Ramstrom and Jay Sundeen scored their first career wins. Ramstrom of Worcester, MA, earned a dominating win in the Pro Stocks and Sundeen of Douglas, MA, was best in the Limited Sportsman division.
Keith Rocco of Wallingford scored a hard-fought victory in the Sunoco Modifieds and Tim Sullivan of S. Windsor rebounded with a TIS Modified victory. Scott Michalski of South Killingly took top honors in the Mini Stock main event.
Former divisional champion Marc Palmisano of Hadley, MA, was back in top form as he turned in a commanding performance to win the 50-lap Late Model main event. The strong field of competitors ran the distance with a single caution flag.
Conrad Cote showed the way early in the Late Model main event as Palmisano was on the march. He made quick work of Tom Sullivan for second before taking over the lead from Cote on lap 10. Meanwhile, Zuidema was ripping through the pack. Likely contender Corey Hutchings dropped off the pace on lap 16.
Palmisano had rolled out to a sizeable lead while Zuidema had worked his way into the second position. At the halfway point of the event, Palmisano continued to hold a consistent lead over Zuidema. Cote was hanging on for third.
During the extended green flag run, Cote and Gentes ran in close quarters. With ten laps to got things began to heat up for the third spot as Cote, Gentes, and Jay Stuart ran nose to tail. Gentes finally got inside of Cote with six laps remaining. They ran side-by-side for a single lap. Gentes slid up making ever so slight contact with Cote. This opened the door for both Cote and Stuart.
With the laps flying off the board, despite lapped traffic, it was smooth sailing for Palmisano to his first win of the 2008 season and ending Zuidema’s strong-hold on victory lane. Zuidema settled for second followed by Gentes and Stuart. Cote held on for fifth.
Keith Rocco of Wallingford, CT, continues his hot streak in open-wheel competition in Connecticut short track racing with his first Sunoco Modified win at Thompson. It is Rocco’s third overall win on the 2008 season. Rocco had to work hard for the victory through a number of restarts and some stiff competition for the top spot.
Bobby Grigas III led the opening lap before the caution flew for a single car incident. On the restart, Ceravolo rocketed into the top spot. Rocco had worked his way into the second position before the caution flew again for a spin by Bert Marvin.
The restart pitted Rocco against Ceravolo. After a single lap of green, Rocco was the new leader. Pitkat had moved into the third position by lap 10 while Cates ran in fourth. Grigas was having his hands full with Jimmy Blewett as Kerry Malone watched.
At the halfway marker, Rocco began to stretch his lead over Ceravolo while Pitkat was making headway toward the lead pack. The caution flew for a spin by Anthony Burr to slow the action.
The outside groove was the sweet spot on the restart with Ceravolo retaking the lead. Rocco looked poised to make a bid at the lead when the caution flew once again for an incident that involved Rookie Josh Sylvester, Harry Rheaume, Josh Steeves, and Geoff Gernhard.
On the resulting restart, Ceravolo got a good jump but Rocco would take command of the event. Almost immediately, the caution flew when Pitkat went hard into the turn four wall.
Cates bolted into the lead after contact between the leaders Ceravolo and Rocco. Bobby Grigas followed through and into the second position. Cravenho moved into the third spot but quickly lost the position to a rebounding Rocco.
Ceravolo, who had a flat tire, spun on the backstretch to bring out the caution. Cates took the lead on the restart but less than a lap later Rocco reclaimed the top spot. Contact between third running Grigas and Kerry Malone, sent Grigas spinning.
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